Program Officer Yemen and Mena Regional

Oxfam Novib is committed to ridding the world of poverty and injustice. We have a conviction that people are capable of building a livelihood without poverty on their own, once given the chance to do so. This is why we support local projects in developing countries, why we lobby governments and companies to take into account the interests of the poorest people, and why we campaign to involve Dutch men and women also in our work. We work together with other Oxfam affiliates to increase our impact on development issues.

While Oxfam Novib is decentralising its programs to the field, it has decided not to decentralise its programs for Yemen and the regional programme at this time. Within Oxfam International, Oxfam Novib contributes to the Oxfam Great Britain-led program in Yemen from its office in The Hague. The Oxfam programs in Yemen and the regional programme address social and political participation, active citizenship and gender justice, including economic empowerment of women. In addition the Oxfam program in Yemen focuses on improving the quality of education. Oxfam Novib is currently recruiting for a
 
Program Officer, Yemen and MENA regional
36 hours per week
As soon as possible, for one year, renewable
Based at Oxfam Novib HQ in The Hague

The position:

• In close cooperation with members of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Bureau, you make an important contribution to formulating, refining, and implementing Oxfam Novib policy related to Yemen and the MENA regional programme, within the framework of Oxfam Novib multi year plans and the relevant country strategy documents.
• In collaboration with MENA bureau colleagues you contribute to the implementation of the Oxfam Novib Yemen and MENA regional programme strategies for 2011-2015.
• You contribute to  MENA bureau annual and multi-year planning and quarterly monitoring of Bureau and team level performance to agreed targets.
• You analyze the political and social economic developments in the region on which you work, in particular in relation to the countries and themes in which your counterparts are active;
• Attention to the programs of Oxfam Novib counterparts from the identification phase, through appraisal, program implementation and evaluation, forms the main part of your work. You will coordinate, negotiate, and make agreements and plans, and follow these through in consultation with other members of the MENA  bureau in accordance with Oxfam Novib procedures;
• You will work with the Oxfam Novib risk management tools to assess risks and opportunities in relation to the Yemen and MENA regional programs, and in appraising the programs of potential counterparts, with the starting point of the rights based approach;
• You will monitor the progress and implementation of counterparts’ programmes via direct contact (with counterparts, consultants, and auditors) and assess reports (such as progress reports and periodic evaluations). 
• You will maintain direct contact with partner organisations and other stakeholders and institutions relevant to the work of Oxfam in Yemen and the MENA region.
• You will initiate and facilitate activities concerning knowledge & information management with local partners to strengthen the effectiveness and implementation of programmes and lessons learned.
• As needed you will facilitate the networking between partners and relevant external actors like knowledge and research institutes.
  You are responsible for identifying, organising, facilitating and if needed monitoring capacity building processes for partners you work with.
  In close collaboration with the other Oxfam teams working  in Yemen and the MENA region, you will contribute to the (further development and) implementation of the  the Oxfam Joint Country Analysis and Strategy (JCAS) and operating model,  addressing issues including economic justice, gender justice, social and political participation and active citizenship, and essential services, in particular quality of education.
• You work in a result-oriented manner, and are able to work effectively in a team as well as independently. Within Oxfam Novib, you will work in close co-operation with other Program Officers, the Financial officer and Team Administrator in the MENA bureau, with the Program Officers based in Yemen and with the Policy and Campaigns officer based in Cairo.
• For a MENA multi country externally funded program on women’s political participation, you are responsible for contract management and coordinating the monitoring and reporting to the donor in cooperation with the contract partner and the responsible Financial Officer.
  As needed, you will contribute to Oxfam Novib support in humanitarian preparedness and capacity building of counterparts in relation to Yemen.
• You will develop proposals and reports to donors and monitor programmes funded by external donors including the European Commission.
• You will actively engage in discussions with partners and other stakeholders on fostering external funding opportunities. You will signal opportunities for local co-operation and (back-donor) financing that contribute to the goals of Oxfam (Novib) and you will develop and maintain partnerships.
• You will co-operate with relevant departments within Novib on activities relevant to the Yemen programs and the MENA region. These include the Humanitarian Unit, the Special Projects and External Funding Unit, the Knowledge and Program Management, Quality and Control and Communication staff bureaus, the Campaigns Department, and the Economic Justice, Essential Services, Gender Justice, Rights in Crisis, and Social and Political Participation Program Managers.

Your profile:

• You have a relevant education at academic level, preferably in a development-related field.
• You can demonstrate several years of relevant working experience in similar positions in the field in the Middle East and Maghreb region, and have an affinity with international development issues; familiarity with the rights based approach, a commitment to a gender sensitive approach, and experience working in a conflict sensitive manner.
• You have direct experience working with non-governmental organisations, good insight into their management systems, and are knowledgeable about the contribution they can make in development and in strengthening civil society.
• You are knowledgeable about the key issues in the Middle East and Maghreb region, in particular related to Yemen and to gender. 
• You have good communication skills and fluent command of English both in writing and speaking. Fluency in Arabic is required. Good command of Dutch is also desirable.
• You have experience in raising funds from international donor agencies in the development and humanitarian fields. Experience in contract management is an asset.
• You are willing and able to travel several times a year to the region.
• You have experience with project work and the use of computer programmes (MS Office). Working experience with SAP is appreciated.
• You have organisational and administrative experience and qualities.
• You work well in a team and have outstanding social and intercultural skills.

Salary:
A competitive, fair and comprehensive pay and benefits package that is justifiable to our donors.  We offer a gross salary in the range from €2.607,- and €4.011,- per month on the basis of a 36 hour working week. This is excl. 8% holiday fee and additional benefits will be offered in line with Oxfam Novib’s Collective Labour Agreement.
 
Interested?
Send your application in writing (English) with full curriculum vitae tojobs@oxfamnovib.nl to the attention of Ewa van den Berg (HR), quoting reference number 5-2000 by November 15, 2012. Further information on the position is available from Catherine Essoyan, Regional Manager, Middle East and North Africa Bureau (070-3421832) or Mirjam Andriessen, Associate Country Director Yemen (070-3421754)